Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters. I do not receive any share of the profits. Anything related to Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. I also do not own the youtube video "Haruno Sakura – Breathe Me", this video was created by niminami, any recognition goes to them.

This is the fanfic inspired by the youtube video "Haruno Sakura – Breathe Me".

Thank you, niminami, for creating it.

Breathe Me

Chapter One: Help, I Have Done it Again.

"Sasuke-kun! Please, don't leave!" Emerald eyes filled themselves with fresh tears, just waiting to fall.

Said boy walked along, as if there were no pink haired teammate pleading for him to stay. He did not care, no, instead, he felt as if she were the greatest nuisance to him and his plan for power. It was rather irritating, really, to have to listen to such nonsense, especially from such a weak girl.

"If you leave, it'll be the same as being alone for me! Please!" she continued to cry out. She needn't bother, there was no stopping him. He had his mind made up, no one was going to change it.

Didn't they understand he had a duty? Couldn't they see that he could not go on living with the knowledge that his deranged older brother was still out there? No, none of them did.

"Sasuke-kun!" Her face was drenched in her tears, the waterfall not seeming to cease its descent.

I don't have any other choice, the girl thought, I have to tell him.

"Sasuke-kun, I love you!" she cried out.

Suddenly he was not in front of her, walking away from her. She blinked in surprise, and felt warm breath on the back of her neck.

Sasuke-kun! What are you doing? She thought.

"Sakura…"

She held her breath.

"…arigato."

Sakura's eyes widened in shock as his words penetrated her mind. She only had but a second to process what he said before a sharp pain was felt on the back of her neck, right on her pressure point.

Out cold, Sakura didn't know that he had placed her on the bench, leaving her to sleep silently, until she woke up later. She didn't see the look on his face as he left her, Naruto, Kakashi-sensei, and Konoha behind.

She didn't see the look of contempt on his beautiful face, or hear his thoughts of revenge.

Sakura was dead to the world around her, until she roused from her deep and unpleasant sleep.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

"Sakura-chan? Are you listening?"

Her thoughts were immediately interrupted by the blonde's words.

"Hmm? Yeah, what were you saying Naruto?" she asked.

"I was just talking about my training with Ero-sensei, it's going really well! Only a few more months and I'll be able to bring back the teme!" He smiled enthusiastically.

Sakura wanted to smile back, wanted to encourage her ever-hopeful teammate, but found that she couldn't. She couldn't handle talking about him. It was too much for her.

After Sasuke had left, Sakura finally began to see in herself what he had seen all along. She was weak, she was vulnerable, she was a cry baby. It stung her to finally see those things, but she was determined to become more. She had sought out the Hokage herself, Lady Tsunade, one of the three legendary Sannin, to train her. She had been reluctant at first, but had agreed. Sakura was put through the most intense training of her life, but it was all worth it. Or so she thought.

When Sakura and Naruto set out to rescue Sasuke with Yamato-sempai and Sai, she thought for sure that they were going to bring him back. They had to; Sakura and Naruto had been training for almost two years straight. There was no way they would fail.

But fail they did, and it hurt Sakura almost as much as the day Sasuke had left. He didn't even fight her, she mused, and he had just openly targeted Naruto. She guessed he didn't think she could fight him at all. That had really pissed her off; she had trained her ass off all for him, to prove to him that she wasn't incompetent, that she could fight for herself, and all he did was try to kill Naruto. And that in itself pissed her off. How dare he completely ignore her after what he did?

She shook her head. It was not good to think about him, she remembered.

"Sakura-chan? Are you feeling well?" Naruto placed a hand on her forehead, "Maybe you should see Granny, you don't look too well."

Sakura gave her best fake-Sai smile, "I'm fine, Naruto, really. Just a lot on my mind is all. You know, hospital duties." She added as an excuse.

Sakura stood from the stool she was sitting on at Ichiraku's.

"Thanks for the lunch, but I'm almost late for my shift. I'll see you later, ok?"

Naruto gave her a smile filled nod and hugged her. His smile didn't leave even as she was walking away, her back to him.

That is, until he realized that she had left him to pay for both of their lunches. The owner stood in front of him with a huge expectant smile on his face, waiting for the money.

"Aww, Sakura-chan! Now you're acting like Kaka-sensei!!" he yelled back at her. Her only response was to turn around and smile while giving a peace sign, "See you later, Naruto!" she shouted back.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

The walk back to the hospital was short and lonely, as it always was. No one really said hello to her, she probably wouldn't respond anyway. Everybody knew about her take on Sasuke leaving, everybody knew she was beyond upset.

It was devastating, to say the least, for people who cared about her to see her in this depressed state. One would think she would eventually get over it, right?

Sakura agreed with them, in a sense. She knew she should just get over her feelings.

Sakura knew he wasn't going to come back, there was no way. If he hadn't yet returned, then why in the world would he decide to go back to them now? It just didn't make sense.

It was too bad Naruto was so enthusiastic about bringing Sasuke back, because Sakura had come to think of Naruto as her own brother, and she did not want her brother to be hurt by that bastard of a traitor.

"Hello, Haruno-san! Here's your list of patients this afternoon, and this one is for the evening," the desk lady handed her two clipboards packed with hospital forms. "Oh, and don't forget to bring your evaluations sheets to Shizune, she really needs all of them in by midnight tonight." She smiled at her.

"Ok, thank you. I will be sure to finish those by midnight. Have a good afternoon." Another fake smile.

Sakura turned to walk down the hall, up the stairs, down another hall, and into her office where she could organize herself a little more completely. Her desk was a little more messy than usual, due to the sudden influx of patients arriving.

Ino-pig, you are so lucky your parents own a flower shop, she thought. You don't have to think about anyone dying at your hands here.

Sakura sighed. There was no way she was going to be able to clean up her office today. She had way too much to do; cleanliness was just going to have to wait.

Sakura looked over her clipboard for the afternoon and sighed. She knew this was going to be a bad day the moment she woke up, and here was the proof of it; Shiranui Genma was the first name on her form, and he was due for a physical.

Oh, dear Kami, what did I do to deserve this? She thought to herself. I hope he forgot…

Just as that thought went through her brain, a knock on her office door was heard.

WHY????

"Come in!" she called out.

Sure enough, it was the man in question, Shiranui Genma, complete with his signature senbon between his teeth and a devious smile gracing his lips.

"Why, hello there, Sakura-chan, so nice to see you!" he said. "Will you be my 'doctor' this afternoon?" She didn't like the way his eyes roamed all over her upper torso, but that was a given; if a woman is within ten feet of Genma, they should be prepared to be ogled at.

"You know damn well I am, so cut the crap," she snarled. Today really was not a good day.

Sakura stood from her chair and walked over to her closet to grab her latex gloves and a stethoscope, then proceeded to grab the Shiranui's arm and lead him to the examination room.

"Ooh, feisty, I love that in a woman," he said suggestively.

Sakura's only response was to roll her emerald eyes at the man. Really, it was ridiculous. She couldn't understand how he got all the women he did when he acted so lecherously.

"Just follow me. This won't take long," she said, more to her self than to him.

Sakura pulled Genma into the room and shut the door. She didn't dare lock the door, just in case she needed a quick escape from a certain something.

"Remove your clothes," Sakura said in her professional medic tone.

Genma smirked, "Yes, ma'am!"

He proceeded to strip himself of his clothing, all the while keeping a close eye on the medic-nin before him. "You know, Shizune-chan is way friendlier with me when she gives me a physical. I don't understand why you are so…professional. You don't have to be the perfect ninja all the time, you're allowed to smile every once in a while." He said as he was removing his jounin pants.

"I do my job and I do it well, I don't need to be compared to other medics, skill or abilities aside. I don't mix my personal life or emotions in with my job as a medic." She said. That's not entirely true, her inner voice said to her. I know, but he doesn't know that, Sakura thought back.

"Now, Sakura, you and I both know that is not entirely true!" Genma gave her a knowing smirk, "I know about you giving Naruto and Kakashi googley-eyes!" he laughed at her.

Sakura was speechless for about two seconds, but that was enough for any skilled jounin to see through and interpret.

Yes, it was true that Sakura thought her former teammates were indeed attractive, but then again, who didn't nowadays? Kakashi had always been something of a lady's man, and Naruto was the funny, subtly-charming kind of guy that everyone grew to love. Naturally, as she had been their teammate since she was twelve, she had grown attracted to them.

"I don't know what you heard or from whom, but I assure you that nothing of the sort has happened while I gave them their physicals," she said in her most uppity, holier-than-thou voice. His response was to smirk sexily and say, "Sure, nothing happened, but you wish something happened. You wanted to jump their bones, didn't you?"

She was taken aback. Never had anyone insinuated that she would participate in such vulgar acts. Not to say that she hadn't had sex, she certainly had, but it was the principle of the matter. "Excuse me?! How dare you suggest that! Of course I never would even think of doing that! Naruto is my teammate! Kakashi is my teacher for Kami's sake! That's just wrong!"

"No need to be so defensive! But you know what they say, 'He who protests too much…' er, what was it? Well, anyway, you are being a little too defensive to be considered innocent, my dear." Again, with that stupid smirk! Didn't it ever go away?!

"Whatever, Genma. Let's just get this over with." She sighed.

The physical proceeded with no further questioning or suggestions, other than the usual "So, you wanna go out sometime?" Genma seemed to always ask. Sakura quickly rid herself of him, and went on to treat the next person on her patient list.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

The rest of Sakura's day went by slowly and without anything of importance occurring. She was almost disappointed; she had wanted to have at least a little bit of excitement during the boring afternoon and night shift.

She walked home silently and alone, thinking about what Genma had said earlier that day.

I know Naruto and Kakashi are good-looking, anyone with eyes can see that. Well, maybe not with Kakashi, unless they've seen him without his shirt on, because I don't think anyone is going to see him without his mask. But seriously, it's so obvious! Of course I'm attracted to them! I just don't feel the need to act out on it.

Keep telling yourself that, her inner said.

Sakura scoffed as a cool breeze blew over her. No, she didn't think she would ever act out on her emotions, not ever again. She wasn't going to make the same mistake twice.

As she passed by the Yamanaka's flower shop, she spotted Ino, sitting by herself, eyes downcast. It was unusual for Ino to be outside the shop so late at night, even more unusual for her to be alone. She usually had either Chouji or Shikamaru or Sakura herself to drag along wherever she went. So for her to be sitting alone, Sakura knew something bad must have happened.

"Ino?" Sakura called out. Ino immediately looked up, and, Sakura could have sworn, wiped tears away from her cheeks.

"Oh, hey forehead. What are you doing?" she asked.

"I was just about to ask you the same thing. What are you doing out here? It's after midnight, shouldn't you be home?" Sakura asked a little worried.

"Well, you know…I was just sitting here stargazing. The sky is so clear tonight, don't you think?"

"Pig, I saw you staring at the ground when I walked over here, what's going on? Are you alright?"

Ino looked down again after being seen right through. Of course Sakura would know its Sakura. Who else would know besides Sakura? Ino could never hide anything from her, no matter how hard she tried.

"It's nothing really. Just…Kami! Shikamaru makes me so mad sometimes! He's so lazy and he never does anything; just sits around watching those stupid clouds! I don't understand him…" Sakura knew better than to try to calm her down, Ino just needed to get everything out of her system. It wasn't healthy to keep frustrations bottled up.

Look who's talking, inner Sakura said.

Shut up, can't you see she needs me right now? Sakura countered back.

All I'm saying is maybe you should focus on yourself every once in a while. You need to get your frustrations out too, you're still human, kunoichi or not.

Sakura inwardly growled. Of course her inner was right, but she wasn't willing to admit that just yet. She needed to focus on Ino now, this was her time.

"…And he never listens to me! He's always thinking about that stupid Sand girl! What was her name? Oh, Temari! Kami she is such a bitch! Why can't she like someone from her own village? It's not fucking fair! I want him…" Ino trailed off. She knew that Sakura knew that Ino had feelings for Shikamaru, they just never talked about it. Now that it was out in the open, it felt like she just took a breath of fresh air. But only a breath, it wasn't like she was breathing it, which would be nice, she thought.

"Ino, I know how much you like him, but, you know how oblivious he is. You know how long it took him to realize that Temari liked him? Years! But I don't think it would take that long with you, I mean, you guys were teammates, right? And Temari had only seen him a few times before, so it should be better. And Shikamaru is…well, Shikamaru. He just needs time." Sakura tried to sooth her worries.

"But forehead, I've given him time! I've flirted with him like crazy! I've been suggestive and seductive; you should have seen Chouji's face when he walked up on us when I was trying to seduce him. I thought he was going to have a nosebleed for a week!" Ino smiled at the memory. She looked up at the sky while reminiscing, and noticed how bright the moon was.

"Sakura, look at how bright the moon is!" she exclaimed. Sakura looked up. Yeah, it was bright. Yeah, it was pretty, but Sakura didn't really care about that at the moment. Her mind was full of worries and stress and responsibilities; she didn't have time in her mind to appreciate the beauty of the moon. It was going to have to wait for some other time.

"Ino, I'm sorry but I have to get home; it's late and I have to work the morning shift. I'll see you tomorrow? Maybe we can meet up for lunch or something," she said.

"Yeah, sure. That'd be great. What time do you get off?" Ino turned her smile towards Sakura.

"Um, probably around two-ish. Just come by the hospital and tell the lady at the front desk you're waiting for me, she'll let me know. I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye, forehead," Ino said teasingly.

Sakura smirked, "Bye, pig."

With that, Sakura continued her lonely walk home, hoping for no more distractions as she really was tired after such a long and boring day. She only had a couple more blocks to go, but she thought it felt like forever.

………………………………….

When she got back to her apartment, she stood in the doorway for a couple of minutes, just looking and thinking.

I need to find a new apartment closer to the hospital, this is ridiculous. I wonder if I have anything to eat. I don't think I ate anything today…oh wait, I had lunch with Naruto, that's right. What did I eat? Damn, I can't remember. Oh, well. I need to find something to eat, I'm starving.

She walked into her kitchen and opened her cupboard. Nothing. Just an old package of instant ramen that Naruto had given her that she never ate obviously. She turned to the refrigerator. Hmm, there was some milk and a package of grapes. Interesting. Oh, and some butter on the door. She looked at the top of the refrigerator to see if there was any cereal or anything else she could eat. Nope, there was just more ramen. But this one wasn't bad yet; Naruto had just given this one to her about a week ago, so it was still edible. Sakura stood up on her toes and grabbed the package of instant ramen. It was beef ramen. Not her absolute favourite, but it would do.

She sat at her kitchen table, alone eating instant ramen that her best friend had given her because she hadn't been eating.

Sakura was affected by his leaving more than she cared to admit.

……………………………………………………………………………………………....

First chapters are supposed to be boring, so cut me some slack. I urge you to watch "Haruno Sakura – Breathe Me" on youtube, which is the inspiration for this fic.